Studies on Organ Specificity

[摘要] 1. 1. Thyroid autoantibodies of four different species-namely: rabbit, dog, guinea pig, and human- were examined for organ specificity by different serologic techniques. Each of the four types of antisera cross-reacted with the thyroid extracts of the other species, but in general reacted more strongly with its homologous antigen when tested by means of tanned erythrocytes coated with the various thyroid extracts.2. 2. The method of complement-fixation when applied to the rabbit thyroid autoantibody gave principally the same results as the tanned cell hemagglutination test. Considerable cross-reaction was observable in this case with hog and horse thyroid extracts but little or no cross-reaction occurred with thyroid extracts of other animals.3. 3. Using gel double diffusion precipitation tests in tubes, sera containing thyroid autoantibodies could be shown to precipitate the thyroid extracts of certain other species.4. 4. The agglutination by a rabbit thyroid autoantibody of tanned erythrocytes coated with rabbit thyroid extract could be completely inhibited by very small amounts of the homologous antigen, rabbit thyroid extract. None of the other thyroid extracts, even the greatest concentrations available, would completely inhibit this agglutination. The agglutination by a rabbit thyroid autoantibody of tanned erythrocytes coated with hog thyroid extract could be inhibited equally well by hog thyroid extract and rabbit thyroid extract.5. 5. The existence and predominant significance of a species-specific ( i.e. , non-cross-reacting) thyroid autoantibody is further underlined by the failure of thyroid extract of different species to influence the straight line of precipitation formed by the interaction of the homologous thyroid extract and its corresponding autoantibody in gel diffusion precipitation tests in plates.6. 6. Thyroid autoantibodies, although specific for the thyroid, cross-react with thyroid extracts of certain other species. Absorption with the heterologous thyroid extract removes the heterologous reactions but does not remove the homologous reaction. These findings suggest the presence of a spectrum of autoantibodies all specific for thyroid extract, and presumably for thyroglobulin.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）